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Spoken For: Embracing Who You Are and Whose You Are
Say Yes to the Love Story of Your Life A great romance was set in motion before you were born. A relentless Lover is pursuing you, and He has made His intentions clear. He wants you to be His forever. How will you respond to the One who longs for you to be His with your whole heart? In Spoken For, Robin Jones Gunn and Alyssa Joy Bethke speak to your heart about what it means for you to belong to Christ, who you are because of His love, and how that affects the way you live. Drawing on biblical promises and their personal experiences, these two friends share what it’s like to live out God’s unfolding love story. You are not up for grabs. You are spoken for. Includes questions for group discussion and personal reflection.
192 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2014
49 people are currently reading
1291 people want to read
About the author
Robin Jones Gunn
162 books2,632 followersROBIN JONES GUNN has written more than 100 books with over 6.5 million copies sold worldwide. Her Father Christmas books have been made into three Hallmark Christmas movies. The timeless Christy Miller series now continues in Christy & Todd: The College Years, Married Years, Baby Years, and the Haven Maker series. Robin's novels and non-fiction works include Before Your Tween Daughter Becomes a Woman, Victim of Grace, Praying for Your Future Husband, and Before You Meet Your Future Husband co-authored with Tricia Goyer. Her books have received multiple awards and are a favorite with book clubs and study groups. Many of Robin's books are in eBook, audiobook, large print, and foreign editions. Robin does a weekly Podcast called "Women Worth Knowing" with Cheryl Brodersen. Robin and her husband have a grown son and daughter and live in California.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 83 reviews
July 27, 2014
This book is supposed to be about the epic love story we are in with God. I felt there was way too much of the human love story, especially from the emotional Alyssa. The book ends with a romantic proposal of marriage from Jeff to Alyssa. I think ending the book that way took the attention off of Gunn's teaching on God's romance towards us. I would have liked less of a blow by blow of Alyssa's dating experiences and more solid teaching on God's love for us.
See my full review at http://bit.ly/1nLLWYY.
I received a complimentary digital galley of this book from the publisher for the purpose of an independent and honest review.
See my full review at http://bit.ly/1nLLWYY.
I received a complimentary digital galley of this book from the publisher for the purpose of an independent and honest review.
March 21, 2014
A book for every girl. When you put this down you will no longer question who you are, Whose you are, or how loved you are by the Relentless Lover.
August 17, 2017
Original Review found at: http://kyliequinonez.wixsite.com/kyli...
This book bounces back and forth between each writer's voice and story and unfolds each woman's personal love story as they discuss the way that God loves each one of us and how He, as the lover of our souls, peruses a relationship with us- even when we are unlovely or unfaithful to Him and His highest desires for us. Though 95% of it is 'something I've heard before' the style that Gunn writes and communicates those eternal truths in is refreshingly honest, and poignant. The truth of God's love is one that I think is difficult to write about because how do you quantify something for human imagining and understanding that is so completely incomprehensible to us here on earth? Gunn and Bethke do a fine job of this though as they take hold of something we can grasp- a love story- and parallel that with our spiritual love story as Christians. This book was very sweet and definitely made me think a lot about my life and decisions I have made. I think every teenage girl should read this. God is your Mr. Right!
This book bounces back and forth between each writer's voice and story and unfolds each woman's personal love story as they discuss the way that God loves each one of us and how He, as the lover of our souls, peruses a relationship with us- even when we are unlovely or unfaithful to Him and His highest desires for us. Though 95% of it is 'something I've heard before' the style that Gunn writes and communicates those eternal truths in is refreshingly honest, and poignant. The truth of God's love is one that I think is difficult to write about because how do you quantify something for human imagining and understanding that is so completely incomprehensible to us here on earth? Gunn and Bethke do a fine job of this though as they take hold of something we can grasp- a love story- and parallel that with our spiritual love story as Christians. This book was very sweet and definitely made me think a lot about my life and decisions I have made. I think every teenage girl should read this. God is your Mr. Right!
September 12, 2014
About this book:
“Say Yes to the Love Story of Your Life.
A great romance was set in motion before you were born. A relentless Lover is pursuing you, and He has made His intentions clear. He wants you to be His forever. How will you respond to the One who longs for you to be His with your whole heart?
In Spoken For, Robin Jones Gunn and Alyssa Joy Bethke speak to your heart about what it means for you to belong to Christ, who you are because of His love, and how that affects the way you live. Drawing on biblical promises and their personal experiences, these two friends share what it’s like to live out God’s unfolding love story.
You are not up for grabs. You are spoken for.
Includes questions for group discussion and personal reflection.”
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Pre Teens- Three Stars {Maybe as a Mother Daughter Devo}
New Teens- Five Stars
Early High School Teens- Five Stars
Older High School Teens- Five Stars
My personal Rating- Five Stars
This was a fabulous book! I honestly wanted to quote all of it! The wisdom is this book is amazing! I personally would recommend this book to every girl who’s ever had a crush—and then read it at least once every year. I’ve been in awe of Robin Jones Gunn ever since I read the first Christy Miller book (which I’ll be re-reading and reviewing soon!) “Spoken For” made me even more in awe of her. Reading about both authors’ relationships with their husbands (and how their guys proposed!) was incredibly sweet but learning more about their Faiths and how we are Christ’s bride was inspiring.
“If you were you ask ten couples how they got engaged, each of them would have a different story. If you asked ten Christians how they came to know Christ, they would have different stories as well. God treats us as individuals. He knows what makes our hearts sing. He knows our love language. Jesus orchestrates His “proposal” moment with us and knows what it takes to woo us. He desires for us to rise up and leave all other pursuers. He wants us to be His alone, knowing that one day He will return when all is ready for the wedding. He will call to us to come away and be with Him forever. Until that day, we can live with unwavering confidence, knowing that we are promise to Him. We are spoken for.”
Link to review:
http://booksforchristiangirls.blogspo...
*BFCG may (Read the review to see) recommend this book by this author. It does not mean I recommend all the books by this author.
*I received this book for free from the Publisher (Multnomah) through BloggingforBooks for this review.
“Say Yes to the Love Story of Your Life.
A great romance was set in motion before you were born. A relentless Lover is pursuing you, and He has made His intentions clear. He wants you to be His forever. How will you respond to the One who longs for you to be His with your whole heart?
In Spoken For, Robin Jones Gunn and Alyssa Joy Bethke speak to your heart about what it means for you to belong to Christ, who you are because of His love, and how that affects the way you live. Drawing on biblical promises and their personal experiences, these two friends share what it’s like to live out God’s unfolding love story.
You are not up for grabs. You are spoken for.
Includes questions for group discussion and personal reflection.”
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Pre Teens- Three Stars {Maybe as a Mother Daughter Devo}
New Teens- Five Stars
Early High School Teens- Five Stars
Older High School Teens- Five Stars
My personal Rating- Five Stars
This was a fabulous book! I honestly wanted to quote all of it! The wisdom is this book is amazing! I personally would recommend this book to every girl who’s ever had a crush—and then read it at least once every year. I’ve been in awe of Robin Jones Gunn ever since I read the first Christy Miller book (which I’ll be re-reading and reviewing soon!) “Spoken For” made me even more in awe of her. Reading about both authors’ relationships with their husbands (and how their guys proposed!) was incredibly sweet but learning more about their Faiths and how we are Christ’s bride was inspiring.
“If you were you ask ten couples how they got engaged, each of them would have a different story. If you asked ten Christians how they came to know Christ, they would have different stories as well. God treats us as individuals. He knows what makes our hearts sing. He knows our love language. Jesus orchestrates His “proposal” moment with us and knows what it takes to woo us. He desires for us to rise up and leave all other pursuers. He wants us to be His alone, knowing that one day He will return when all is ready for the wedding. He will call to us to come away and be with Him forever. Until that day, we can live with unwavering confidence, knowing that we are promise to Him. We are spoken for.”
Link to review:
http://booksforchristiangirls.blogspo...
*BFCG may (Read the review to see) recommend this book by this author. It does not mean I recommend all the books by this author.
*I received this book for free from the Publisher (Multnomah) through BloggingforBooks for this review.
November 5, 2018
This book gets right to the point. It encourages and helps differentiate the lies from the truth that many women battle with in the mind everyday. These two women's stories are relatable and the truths they applied are simple facts about who God calls us and how he loved us far before anyone else did.
April 17, 2014
Teen girls are going to love this book- it's love story + humor + Jesus + life lessons that are easy to hold on to. I look forward to sharing it with many teens I know!
February 16, 2019
A book I recommend to teenage girls struggling with identity issues, self-acceptance and love. Gunn and Bethke offer a thoughtful, young reader-friendly account of God’s love for us.
April 16, 2014
In their book Spoken For, authors Robin Jones Gun and Alyssa Joy Bethke set out to help young women discover their identity in Christ—to realize they are bought with a price and “spoken for.”
Spoken For addresses every girl’s inner longings—to belong to someone, to be loved, to be cherished, and to be adored. Gunn and Bethke show young women that they are not only loved intensely and sought after, but they are “the bride-to-be in a love story” that began before they were even born. The authors seek to help young women discover that in Christ they are wanted, pursued, loved and called. On top of that, they are of great value, a peculiar treasure, set free, covered and promised. The authors want readers to see that, in essence, they are spoken for.
Throughout Spoken For, Gunn and Bethke blend scriptures with their own personal stories to paint a picture of how God wants them to embrace who they are in Christ, focusing mainly on their stories of dating, young love, dating, engagement, marriage.
For me, the best part of Spoken For was Gunn’s list of “What God Says About You,” listing evidence straight from the scriptures of God’s unfailing love. God says:
• You were made in my image (Genesis 1:27).
• You are fearfully and wonderfully made (Psalm 139:14).
• I am the Bridegroom and you are my bride (John 3:29).
• I determined the exact time of your birth and where you would live (Acts 17:26).
• What words of comfort, joy and peace for the reader as she takes joy in discovering her identity in Christ!
Overall, Spoken For is biblically sound, and the authors often refer to scripture verses to support their ideas—that women are wanted, pursued, loved, called, and set free. There are a few “What Do You Think?” questions at the end of each chapter. To me, this is the disappointing part of the book. Rather than get young women digging into God’s Word, the questions focus more on the reader’s thoughts or personal experiences. You’ll find things like:
• Describe a time when you felt God was pursuing you or drawing you closer to Him.
• In what ways would your life be different if you lived each day in the confidence and security of God’s love?
• Think about a time when someone covered your debt or paid for something you owed. How did that feel?
The questions are thought-provoking and help with personalization and application, but I would like to have seen young women digging into God’s Word for themselves before attacking these types of questions.
I recommend this book for teen girls and college-aged young women. Also, it’s geared more toward young women who aren’t yet married or are very newly married. The authors focus so much on dating and engagement, that women who have been married a while won’t as easily relate. I do think the book would be a great choice for a young women’s small group or book club. It provides sound, biblical teaching concerning identity in Christ and provides a jumping-off point for deeper study of the Word of God.
*I received a copy of the book from Multnomah Books for this review. However, the opinions expressed in the review are my own.
Spoken For addresses every girl’s inner longings—to belong to someone, to be loved, to be cherished, and to be adored. Gunn and Bethke show young women that they are not only loved intensely and sought after, but they are “the bride-to-be in a love story” that began before they were even born. The authors seek to help young women discover that in Christ they are wanted, pursued, loved and called. On top of that, they are of great value, a peculiar treasure, set free, covered and promised. The authors want readers to see that, in essence, they are spoken for.
Throughout Spoken For, Gunn and Bethke blend scriptures with their own personal stories to paint a picture of how God wants them to embrace who they are in Christ, focusing mainly on their stories of dating, young love, dating, engagement, marriage.
For me, the best part of Spoken For was Gunn’s list of “What God Says About You,” listing evidence straight from the scriptures of God’s unfailing love. God says:
• You were made in my image (Genesis 1:27).
• You are fearfully and wonderfully made (Psalm 139:14).
• I am the Bridegroom and you are my bride (John 3:29).
• I determined the exact time of your birth and where you would live (Acts 17:26).
• What words of comfort, joy and peace for the reader as she takes joy in discovering her identity in Christ!
Overall, Spoken For is biblically sound, and the authors often refer to scripture verses to support their ideas—that women are wanted, pursued, loved, called, and set free. There are a few “What Do You Think?” questions at the end of each chapter. To me, this is the disappointing part of the book. Rather than get young women digging into God’s Word, the questions focus more on the reader’s thoughts or personal experiences. You’ll find things like:
• Describe a time when you felt God was pursuing you or drawing you closer to Him.
• In what ways would your life be different if you lived each day in the confidence and security of God’s love?
• Think about a time when someone covered your debt or paid for something you owed. How did that feel?
The questions are thought-provoking and help with personalization and application, but I would like to have seen young women digging into God’s Word for themselves before attacking these types of questions.
I recommend this book for teen girls and college-aged young women. Also, it’s geared more toward young women who aren’t yet married or are very newly married. The authors focus so much on dating and engagement, that women who have been married a while won’t as easily relate. I do think the book would be a great choice for a young women’s small group or book club. It provides sound, biblical teaching concerning identity in Christ and provides a jumping-off point for deeper study of the Word of God.
*I received a copy of the book from Multnomah Books for this review. However, the opinions expressed in the review are my own.
April 11, 2014
First of all, I will fully admit that despite knowing this book was written for young women [even teen girls], I wanted to read it because Robin Jones Gunn wrote it. She’s the author of of my favorite preteen/teen reads of all time: the Christy Miller series. So, I was just curious what she had to say in this setting… and I was just a bit curious if the ‘love lessons’ I learned from Christy would translate to this book. And let me tell you… they DO! Yay! So, even though I’m a little beyond the intended age range for this book, it spoke so much truth to me. So good. Robin Jones Gunn knows her stuff, as does Alyssa Joy Bethke.
The authors’ love stories with their husbands–and with God–are interspersed throughout their reflections on truths related to our lives, truths about how God sees us. Unlike Altared, this alternating love story with Biblically based truth is not annoying and is done very tastefully. Each chapter is devoted to one truth and covers the following topics: You are… wanted, pursued, loved, called, of great value, a peculiar treasure, set free, covered, promised, and spoken for. Out of that list, I related to the first few chapters the most, but truly found life, hope, and encouragement on every page of the book, from reading scripture to reading these women’s personal love stories with the Lord and their husbands.
I think Spoken For would be a great book for a high school or college girls’ small group to read and discuss together. Each chapter includes questions that can be discussed in a group or considered individually. The emphasis of the discussion questions isn’t just on relationships so it really is applicable to a wide range of life experiences–a plus in my book.
My favorite thing about this book was that it is written in such a conversational style that I walked away from every page feeling known and loved. The authors did a great job with this. I know this style of writing is popular now because of blogs, but to me, it came across as genuine and not cheesy… and I didn’t think that the authors had everything “figured out” either, which as a young person I know can be quite annoying! Life and faith, for all of us, is a constant path of learning and growth and I felt this book emphasized that so well.
Though this book is written for young women [maybe ages 13 and up, approximately?] I think any woman, no matter her age, can relate to the need to feel loved, or wanted, or called. The easy-to-read, more simplistic format of this book is a welcome change to some books in the Christian living genre, without downgrading the Biblical validity of the book. I highly suggest you check it out when it is released on April 15th! I highly recommend this book to youth leaders and parents of teens as well. Good stuff!
Disclosure: I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review. However, I was not required to write a positive review. The thoughts expressed above are entirely my own. Thanks to WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for the chance to read this great book!
April 28, 2014
About the Book:
Say Yes to the Love Story of Your LifeA great romance was set in motion before you were born. A relentless Lover is pursuing you, and He has made His intentions clear. He wants you to be His forever. How will you respond to the One who longs for you to be His with your whole heart?
In Spoken For, Robin Jones Gunn and Alyssa Joy Bethke speak to your heart about what it means for you to belong to Christ, who you are because of His love, and how that affects the way you live. Drawing on biblical promises and their personal experiences, these two friends share what it’s like to live out God’s unfolding love story.
You are not up for grabs. You are spoken for.
Includes questions for group discussion and personal reflection.
About the Authors:
Robin Jones Gunn, best-selling author of the much-loved Christy Miller Series and co-author of Praying for Your Future Husband, has had more than 4.5 million copies of her books sold worldwide. Her frequent speaking engagements have taken her around the globe. Robin and her husband live in Hawaii and have a grown son and daughter.
Twenty-six-year-old Alyssa Joy Bethke is a popular blogger and a newlywed. She serves with her husband—speaker, author, and spoken word artist Jefferson Bethke—as they travel the world sharing God’s lavish grace. Alyssa lives in the Pacific Northwest with Jeff and their yellow lab, Aslan, and enjoys reading, hiking, paddleboarding, and, of course, coffee.
My Review:
Isn't it great and just plain freeing to know that we are unconditionally loved&cared for? We are God's children--we belong to Him, that was His intent and purpose for creating us. How anyone could walk away and not want Him to be the center of their life, is beyond my comprehension. Spoken For, addresses this and so much more. My favorite chapter in the book-Chapter 5 "You Have Been Called," discusses how He pursues us and we in turn want to be in His will. But for some reason we constantly over and over again tend to go our own way all the while knowing that we shouldn't.
Through their different experiences, the authors show us Biblically how we are to be open to the pursuit of our God but also how we should pursue Him as well. Choosing to follow God's will for our lives is just that--a choice. It is a choice that we should always keep at the forefront of everything we do in our lives. After each chapter of loving, Christ centered commentary, there are questions to keep you deep in the thought of strengthening your relationship with God. Built on Biblical principles and sound in site, Spoken For will remind you of who you belong to and your purpose for being His.
**Disclosure** This book was sent to me free of charge for my honest review from Blogging for Books.
Say Yes to the Love Story of Your LifeA great romance was set in motion before you were born. A relentless Lover is pursuing you, and He has made His intentions clear. He wants you to be His forever. How will you respond to the One who longs for you to be His with your whole heart?
In Spoken For, Robin Jones Gunn and Alyssa Joy Bethke speak to your heart about what it means for you to belong to Christ, who you are because of His love, and how that affects the way you live. Drawing on biblical promises and their personal experiences, these two friends share what it’s like to live out God’s unfolding love story.
You are not up for grabs. You are spoken for.
Includes questions for group discussion and personal reflection.
About the Authors:
Robin Jones Gunn, best-selling author of the much-loved Christy Miller Series and co-author of Praying for Your Future Husband, has had more than 4.5 million copies of her books sold worldwide. Her frequent speaking engagements have taken her around the globe. Robin and her husband live in Hawaii and have a grown son and daughter.
Twenty-six-year-old Alyssa Joy Bethke is a popular blogger and a newlywed. She serves with her husband—speaker, author, and spoken word artist Jefferson Bethke—as they travel the world sharing God’s lavish grace. Alyssa lives in the Pacific Northwest with Jeff and their yellow lab, Aslan, and enjoys reading, hiking, paddleboarding, and, of course, coffee.
My Review:
Isn't it great and just plain freeing to know that we are unconditionally loved&cared for? We are God's children--we belong to Him, that was His intent and purpose for creating us. How anyone could walk away and not want Him to be the center of their life, is beyond my comprehension. Spoken For, addresses this and so much more. My favorite chapter in the book-Chapter 5 "You Have Been Called," discusses how He pursues us and we in turn want to be in His will. But for some reason we constantly over and over again tend to go our own way all the while knowing that we shouldn't.
Through their different experiences, the authors show us Biblically how we are to be open to the pursuit of our God but also how we should pursue Him as well. Choosing to follow God's will for our lives is just that--a choice. It is a choice that we should always keep at the forefront of everything we do in our lives. After each chapter of loving, Christ centered commentary, there are questions to keep you deep in the thought of strengthening your relationship with God. Built on Biblical principles and sound in site, Spoken For will remind you of who you belong to and your purpose for being His.
**Disclosure** This book was sent to me free of charge for my honest review from Blogging for Books.
June 3, 2014
Valued Higher Than Gold
Our life is a love story, and God is our pursuer. This relatively short, easy to read book is small, but it is full of big ideas concerning our worth, importance and value to God. This volume compares our relationship with God to that of a beloved bride who is cherished by her husband.
The book is written by two women, who give their perspectives and experiences in relationships. Robin has been married many decades, while Alyssa is a newlywed. They share situations in relationships that were bad, as well as, wonderful ones. They tell of their experiences with God, and His pursuit of them–and us all. The two describe how wonderful relationships can be when God is included.
The authors state that bad relationships can cause our self-worth to plummet. Those negative feelings can live on, even into good relationships with someone else. We need to understand that all of us are highly valued; God adores each one of us. Many scriptures are given that show the deep love, and high regard God has for us all.
I really enjoyed this book, and it is very readable. There are questions at the end of each chapter that cause you to think more about the subjects covered. The true stories were very interesting, and brought home the points the authors were making. Ultimately, we need to get our self-worth from God, and not from those around us. This book will help the reader understand that God loves us deeply. He wants to have an awesome love story with each one of us, and be a part of all our relationships. If anyone has ever felt bad about themselves, or disappointed in a relationship, I recommend they read this 5-star book.
The publisher has provided me with a complimentary copy of this book through WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group’s Blogging for Books for the purpose of review. All opinions expressed are my own, and I have not been compensated in any other manner.
My Blog: http://bookreadingtic.com/2014/06/03/...
Author Information about Robin Jones Gunn
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorRobinJ...
Website: http://www.robingunn.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/robingunn
Author Information about Alyssa Joy Bethke
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/alyssajoybethke
Website: http://www.alyssajoy.me
Twitter: https://twitter.com/alyssajoybethke
Our life is a love story, and God is our pursuer. This relatively short, easy to read book is small, but it is full of big ideas concerning our worth, importance and value to God. This volume compares our relationship with God to that of a beloved bride who is cherished by her husband.
The book is written by two women, who give their perspectives and experiences in relationships. Robin has been married many decades, while Alyssa is a newlywed. They share situations in relationships that were bad, as well as, wonderful ones. They tell of their experiences with God, and His pursuit of them–and us all. The two describe how wonderful relationships can be when God is included.
The authors state that bad relationships can cause our self-worth to plummet. Those negative feelings can live on, even into good relationships with someone else. We need to understand that all of us are highly valued; God adores each one of us. Many scriptures are given that show the deep love, and high regard God has for us all.
I really enjoyed this book, and it is very readable. There are questions at the end of each chapter that cause you to think more about the subjects covered. The true stories were very interesting, and brought home the points the authors were making. Ultimately, we need to get our self-worth from God, and not from those around us. This book will help the reader understand that God loves us deeply. He wants to have an awesome love story with each one of us, and be a part of all our relationships. If anyone has ever felt bad about themselves, or disappointed in a relationship, I recommend they read this 5-star book.
The publisher has provided me with a complimentary copy of this book through WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group’s Blogging for Books for the purpose of review. All opinions expressed are my own, and I have not been compensated in any other manner.
My Blog: http://bookreadingtic.com/2014/06/03/...
Author Information about Robin Jones Gunn
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorRobinJ...
Website: http://www.robingunn.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/robingunn
Author Information about Alyssa Joy Bethke
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/alyssajoybethke
Website: http://www.alyssajoy.me
Twitter: https://twitter.com/alyssajoybethke
April 29, 2014
Spoken For is a beautiful and poignant book that women in all walks and ages of life should read. It's a wonderful book that is backed up with Biblical truth, personal stories from the authors, and great ending chapter questions to help the readers for personal reflection and great material for quiet times with the Lord. When you read this, get ready for the moving experience that lays out the firm foundation of embracing who you are and whose you are.
Being a single lady, I was slightly apprehensive to reading this book due to a personal reason. Truth being told, I really didn't want to read a book that told me that being single meant God was "saving me for the special one" or "you're the precious diamond and He's preparing you." Now, all of these are great and truthful, but for me if a whole book is pointing out my singleness as a way of God just keeping me out of sight for that one guy, I'm out. This book however did not do that. And I am so grateful for that.
This book doesn't focus on a relationship with another man that could be our husband. Instead, it focuses on the relationship with the perfect Lover. The Lover of our Soul. He wanted me, so He died for me, and because of that the distance between us is shortened to a personal relationship.
I just loved this book. It wasn't too long but it wasn't too short. Each chapter was carefully laid out with a perfect opening beginning to prepare the reader for the content, then from there both Robyn and Alyssa would give a flashback from their lives where God was working and showing them this truth. The truth of what God says and believes of us as His children.
I could relate a lot more to Alyssa's stories, but Robyn's were just as powerful and meaningful to read. I zoomed through this book and just wanted to keep going. Would love for these two to collaborate more together with books for women with different topics that remind us of who God says we are and what we are with Him.
You should say Yes to Spoken For.
Rating: 5 out of 5 bookshelves
I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review.
Being a single lady, I was slightly apprehensive to reading this book due to a personal reason. Truth being told, I really didn't want to read a book that told me that being single meant God was "saving me for the special one" or "you're the precious diamond and He's preparing you." Now, all of these are great and truthful, but for me if a whole book is pointing out my singleness as a way of God just keeping me out of sight for that one guy, I'm out. This book however did not do that. And I am so grateful for that.
This book doesn't focus on a relationship with another man that could be our husband. Instead, it focuses on the relationship with the perfect Lover. The Lover of our Soul. He wanted me, so He died for me, and because of that the distance between us is shortened to a personal relationship.
I just loved this book. It wasn't too long but it wasn't too short. Each chapter was carefully laid out with a perfect opening beginning to prepare the reader for the content, then from there both Robyn and Alyssa would give a flashback from their lives where God was working and showing them this truth. The truth of what God says and believes of us as His children.
I could relate a lot more to Alyssa's stories, but Robyn's were just as powerful and meaningful to read. I zoomed through this book and just wanted to keep going. Would love for these two to collaborate more together with books for women with different topics that remind us of who God says we are and what we are with Him.
You should say Yes to Spoken For.
Rating: 5 out of 5 bookshelves
I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review.
August 19, 2014
Summary (From Amazon)
Say Yes to the Love Story of Your Life
A great romance was set in motion before you were born. A relentless Lover is pursuing you, and He has made His intentions clear. He wants you to be His forever. How will you respond to the One who longs for you to be His with your whole heart?
In Spoken For, Robin Jones Gunn and Alyssa Joy Bethke speak to your heart about what it means for you to belong to Christ, who you are because of His love, and how that affects the way you live. Drawing on biblical promises and their personal experiences, these two friends share what it’s like to live out God’s unfolding love story.
You are not up for grabs. You are spoken for.
Includes questions for group discussion and personal reflection.
My thoughts:
Those who know me, know it'll take a lot to get me to read nonfiction. A VERY LOT. But when a nonfiction book by one of my all time favorite authors (Robin Jones Gunn) pops up, I"m more apt to read it than to not read it.
In this book, the authors make the reader feel as if you're right there with them sipping tea and chatting. I love that. I felt that I was able to really see their hearts. I didn't feel that this book was textbook like in it's writing, but an actual conversation with the authors.
I also loved the way that they pointed out that Someone wants you the reader. I have made a copy of the various Scriptures for my journal for further reflection and study. They may not have set out to do this, but I found it happening and I"m glad that they did, I found myself wanting and even longing to spend more time in God's Word, really getting to know Him so much more than before.
Anyway, as someone who doesn't read nonfiction, I really enjoyed this book. I plan on loaning it to a friend, but I'll want it back. :)
I received this book for free from Blogging for Books for the purpose of reviewing. My thoughts and opinions are my own.
Recommended to fans of Robin Jones Gunn, Bible Study, Liz Curtis Higgs, Beth Moore
Rating - 5 stars
Say Yes to the Love Story of Your Life
A great romance was set in motion before you were born. A relentless Lover is pursuing you, and He has made His intentions clear. He wants you to be His forever. How will you respond to the One who longs for you to be His with your whole heart?
In Spoken For, Robin Jones Gunn and Alyssa Joy Bethke speak to your heart about what it means for you to belong to Christ, who you are because of His love, and how that affects the way you live. Drawing on biblical promises and their personal experiences, these two friends share what it’s like to live out God’s unfolding love story.
You are not up for grabs. You are spoken for.
Includes questions for group discussion and personal reflection.
My thoughts:
Those who know me, know it'll take a lot to get me to read nonfiction. A VERY LOT. But when a nonfiction book by one of my all time favorite authors (Robin Jones Gunn) pops up, I"m more apt to read it than to not read it.
In this book, the authors make the reader feel as if you're right there with them sipping tea and chatting. I love that. I felt that I was able to really see their hearts. I didn't feel that this book was textbook like in it's writing, but an actual conversation with the authors.
I also loved the way that they pointed out that Someone wants you the reader. I have made a copy of the various Scriptures for my journal for further reflection and study. They may not have set out to do this, but I found it happening and I"m glad that they did, I found myself wanting and even longing to spend more time in God's Word, really getting to know Him so much more than before.
Anyway, as someone who doesn't read nonfiction, I really enjoyed this book. I plan on loaning it to a friend, but I'll want it back. :)
I received this book for free from Blogging for Books for the purpose of reviewing. My thoughts and opinions are my own.
Recommended to fans of Robin Jones Gunn, Bible Study, Liz Curtis Higgs, Beth Moore
Rating - 5 stars
April 12, 2014
“A great romance was set in motion before you were born. A relentless Lover is pursuing you, and He has made His intentions clear. He wants you to be His forever. How will you respond to the One who longs for you to be His with your whole heart?”
Spoken For – Embracing Who You Are and Whose You Are by Robin Jones Gunn and Alyssa Joy Bethke. What can I say about this book by Oh My! Reading the truths written in this book was a soothing balm for my heart. The authors’s lovingly and candidly share their own stories of love, disappointment, and restoration.
They bring their stories through nearly a dozen chapters all declaring that we are: Wanted, Pursued, Loved, Called, of Great Value, a Peculiar Treasure, Set Free, Covered, Promised and Spoken For. I don’t think that it would matter if you were 18 or 80. You need to know with all that you are that YOU are HIS chosen. He is your Bridegroom and He loves you, He is seeking and pursuing you. Read this book to see what happens with you respond to the invitation of the true Bridegroom and step into the center of an epic love story – yours.
To read Chapter One of “Spoken For” go to: http://waterbrookmultnomah.com/wp-con...
Visit Robin’s Website: http://www.robingunn.com/
Visit Alyssa’s Website: http://alyssajoy.me/
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/wa... : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
*Reviews of this book were posted at the following locations:
Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Deeper Shopping, Goodreads, and to be featured on my blog at http://titus3.wordpress.com
Spoken For – Embracing Who You Are and Whose You Are by Robin Jones Gunn and Alyssa Joy Bethke. What can I say about this book by Oh My! Reading the truths written in this book was a soothing balm for my heart. The authors’s lovingly and candidly share their own stories of love, disappointment, and restoration.
They bring their stories through nearly a dozen chapters all declaring that we are: Wanted, Pursued, Loved, Called, of Great Value, a Peculiar Treasure, Set Free, Covered, Promised and Spoken For. I don’t think that it would matter if you were 18 or 80. You need to know with all that you are that YOU are HIS chosen. He is your Bridegroom and He loves you, He is seeking and pursuing you. Read this book to see what happens with you respond to the invitation of the true Bridegroom and step into the center of an epic love story – yours.
To read Chapter One of “Spoken For” go to: http://waterbrookmultnomah.com/wp-con...
Visit Robin’s Website: http://www.robingunn.com/
Visit Alyssa’s Website: http://alyssajoy.me/
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/wa... : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
*Reviews of this book were posted at the following locations:
Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Deeper Shopping, Goodreads, and to be featured on my blog at http://titus3.wordpress.com
August 13, 2016
Spoken For
Embracing Who You Are and Whose You Are
By: Robin Jones Gunn and Alyssa Joy Bethke
Every teenage girl should read this book! And adults too. This is the book to read. Do you realize how much God loves us? Do you understand how much he wants to spend time with us? While reading this book, I came to understand that God pursues us. He draws us to him, because he loves us so much. Are you looking for someone who will take the role of the hero in your life and love you, deeply love you, not for what you do or how you look, but simply for who you are? This is the book to read to fully understand God’s love for us.
Feelings of being unwanted, lonely, unlovable, unworthy, these feelings are felt in earthly relationships. But God pursues us, the man he had handcrafted so meticulously from the earth’s dust and the woman he had sculpted so precisely from Adam, for Adam. He wants us, he loves us, and he cherishes us.
After each chapter is a list of questions to work through to deepen the points made in that chapter. Also, there is a list of verses from the Bible What God Says About You. My favorite one: My thoughts toward you are as countless as the grains of sand on the seashore (Psalm 139:17-18). He thinks about us, and not just occasionally. More times than we can count!
The choice is up to you. Will you accept God’s love today? The moment you believe in Jesus as your Lord and Savior and begin to follow him, he sets you free from sin, selfishness, wrath, eternal separation from God, mistakes, guilt, shame, and your past so you can live fully for Him. This book is written for teenage girls, but anyone can learn so much from it. I caught myself crying several times while reading. Life is hard, relationships can tear us down, but once we accept God’s love for us, we get to live out God’s unfolding love story.
I received this book free from Blogging For Books in exchange for an honest review.
Embracing Who You Are and Whose You Are
By: Robin Jones Gunn and Alyssa Joy Bethke
Every teenage girl should read this book! And adults too. This is the book to read. Do you realize how much God loves us? Do you understand how much he wants to spend time with us? While reading this book, I came to understand that God pursues us. He draws us to him, because he loves us so much. Are you looking for someone who will take the role of the hero in your life and love you, deeply love you, not for what you do or how you look, but simply for who you are? This is the book to read to fully understand God’s love for us.
Feelings of being unwanted, lonely, unlovable, unworthy, these feelings are felt in earthly relationships. But God pursues us, the man he had handcrafted so meticulously from the earth’s dust and the woman he had sculpted so precisely from Adam, for Adam. He wants us, he loves us, and he cherishes us.
After each chapter is a list of questions to work through to deepen the points made in that chapter. Also, there is a list of verses from the Bible What God Says About You. My favorite one: My thoughts toward you are as countless as the grains of sand on the seashore (Psalm 139:17-18). He thinks about us, and not just occasionally. More times than we can count!
The choice is up to you. Will you accept God’s love today? The moment you believe in Jesus as your Lord and Savior and begin to follow him, he sets you free from sin, selfishness, wrath, eternal separation from God, mistakes, guilt, shame, and your past so you can live fully for Him. This book is written for teenage girls, but anyone can learn so much from it. I caught myself crying several times while reading. Life is hard, relationships can tear us down, but once we accept God’s love for us, we get to live out God’s unfolding love story.
I received this book free from Blogging For Books in exchange for an honest review.
October 29, 2014
Review UPDATE:I gave this book another chance this weekend and it was amazing! I think this book is really meant for a particular time on a person's life. If they are not in the right place in their life to obtain knowledge from this book then they will feel as I did when I originally wrote this review but now I took what I needed from it and enjoyed their stories.
I was very excited to read this book. Ever since I heard that Jefferson Bethke's wife was co-authoring a book; I could not wait to get my hands on it. However, As I started reading and getting more into the book, I was slightly regretting this want.
Spoken For is an intertwining story of Robin's and Alyssa's lives and how they accepted who they are and who they actually belong to. This book includes stories from both ladies about how love and God were in their lives and how much of an influence both of these aspects were to them. However, while I was reading I kept hearing the same message over and over again. I do not know whether to take this as a sign of acknowledgement that the authors were very through in their messaging or lack of ways in which to entice the reader.
I really wanted to enjoy this book but I did not feel a strong pull to finish reading it after 80-something pages. I felt as if the point of the story was told in the first 20 pages and was just being continually being beat to a pulp. I understand that the authors were recounting their love stories and wanting to relate them to God pursing them and God wanting them to love Him more through their lives but having put it through the ringer so many times bored me.
I see how this can possibly be a very relatable book and how girls and women of all ages could gain great insight and knowledge from these amazing Christian women nevertheless I do not see the story and message very effective in this methodology.
[ "I received this book for free from Blogging for Books for this review." ]
I was very excited to read this book. Ever since I heard that Jefferson Bethke's wife was co-authoring a book; I could not wait to get my hands on it. However, As I started reading and getting more into the book, I was slightly regretting this want.
Spoken For is an intertwining story of Robin's and Alyssa's lives and how they accepted who they are and who they actually belong to. This book includes stories from both ladies about how love and God were in their lives and how much of an influence both of these aspects were to them. However, while I was reading I kept hearing the same message over and over again. I do not know whether to take this as a sign of acknowledgement that the authors were very through in their messaging or lack of ways in which to entice the reader.
I really wanted to enjoy this book but I did not feel a strong pull to finish reading it after 80-something pages. I felt as if the point of the story was told in the first 20 pages and was just being continually being beat to a pulp. I understand that the authors were recounting their love stories and wanting to relate them to God pursing them and God wanting them to love Him more through their lives but having put it through the ringer so many times bored me.
I see how this can possibly be a very relatable book and how girls and women of all ages could gain great insight and knowledge from these amazing Christian women nevertheless I do not see the story and message very effective in this methodology.
[ "I received this book for free from Blogging for Books for this review." ]
May 30, 2014
Robin Jones Gunn and Alyssa Joy Bethke have tapped into one of the great needs in the heart of most women---to be loved. They've written this book, Spoken For, all about the divine romance, the way God loves us, pursues us, and calls us His own.
The book is an extremely easy read. I read it in a quick afternoon. Each chapter generally starts with them taking turns telling part of their own love stories (dating, engagement, wedding day) and then relates that to how God loves us with a few Scripture verses. They conclude each chapter with about five questions for further discussion.
This is not a Bible study. The discussions stay fairly superficial and while it may work well for a book club, I wouldn't choose to use it for my next women's Bible study book. It would be a great fit however, for a high school or college small group for women or even for women who haven't been Christians long and need to discover their identity in Christ. The book is also a sweet encouragement of our position in Christ for any Christian woman who struggles with feeling unloved.
I'm not a particularly emotional, romance-loving, wedding-show-watching woman. I don't care for most 'chick flicks' and didn't start planning my wedding in high school. I didn't dream about 'the perfect proposal' and I don't read romance novels or watch the Hallmark channel. If you do, you'll love this book! But it kind of emphasized emotions and tendencies that just aren't me. That isn't at all meant to take away from this book's best audience or purpose. As a straightforward encouragement that God loves you, this book is lovely---simple and sweet and true.
I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review and the opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
The book is an extremely easy read. I read it in a quick afternoon. Each chapter generally starts with them taking turns telling part of their own love stories (dating, engagement, wedding day) and then relates that to how God loves us with a few Scripture verses. They conclude each chapter with about five questions for further discussion.
This is not a Bible study. The discussions stay fairly superficial and while it may work well for a book club, I wouldn't choose to use it for my next women's Bible study book. It would be a great fit however, for a high school or college small group for women or even for women who haven't been Christians long and need to discover their identity in Christ. The book is also a sweet encouragement of our position in Christ for any Christian woman who struggles with feeling unloved.
I'm not a particularly emotional, romance-loving, wedding-show-watching woman. I don't care for most 'chick flicks' and didn't start planning my wedding in high school. I didn't dream about 'the perfect proposal' and I don't read romance novels or watch the Hallmark channel. If you do, you'll love this book! But it kind of emphasized emotions and tendencies that just aren't me. That isn't at all meant to take away from this book's best audience or purpose. As a straightforward encouragement that God loves you, this book is lovely---simple and sweet and true.
I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review and the opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
March 16, 2014
Robin Jones Gunn is my favorite author. You may be familiar with The Christy Miller Series or The Sister Chicks Series? She has written a number of books and I just love all of them. She recently has been working on a new book with a popular blogger and newlywed, Alyssa Bethke. The two of them have written a pretty great book! I can't wait for you to get your own copy and dive into the pages yourself!
The book is told from both Robin and Alyssa's point of view. The reader goes back and forth between both women, but don't worry, it's pretty easy to understand and pick up who is saying what.
The main purpose of this book is to tell women that they are deeply loved by God. It's easy in our society to be rejected, to find our self worth in all the wrong things, to get wrapped up in the things that really don't matter without us ever realizing we are evening doing it. We can easily become consumed by jobs and achievements hoping they will define us or somehow fill the empty hole, but truly only one wants to fill the gap.
God is pursuing us. He loves us. We are not up for grabs. We are not disposable. We are loved. We are his. We are made in his image. We are precious to him. We are spoken for.
I really just love the premise of this book. It's soul lifting, spirit rejuvenating and each chapter you walk away feeling like you were created uniquely. You won't walk away feeling empty or dissatisfied, but instead feeling like your soul had been fed.
The book also includes group discussion and personal reflection questions after each chapter. I love that. This would be great to use as a book club book. The chapters aren't heavy and you could easily read them as part of your daily devotional each morning.
I received this ARC copy from Multnomah Books in an exchange for my honest review. I was not compensated for a positive review.
The book is told from both Robin and Alyssa's point of view. The reader goes back and forth between both women, but don't worry, it's pretty easy to understand and pick up who is saying what.
The main purpose of this book is to tell women that they are deeply loved by God. It's easy in our society to be rejected, to find our self worth in all the wrong things, to get wrapped up in the things that really don't matter without us ever realizing we are evening doing it. We can easily become consumed by jobs and achievements hoping they will define us or somehow fill the empty hole, but truly only one wants to fill the gap.
God is pursuing us. He loves us. We are not up for grabs. We are not disposable. We are loved. We are his. We are made in his image. We are precious to him. We are spoken for.
I really just love the premise of this book. It's soul lifting, spirit rejuvenating and each chapter you walk away feeling like you were created uniquely. You won't walk away feeling empty or dissatisfied, but instead feeling like your soul had been fed.
The book also includes group discussion and personal reflection questions after each chapter. I love that. This would be great to use as a book club book. The chapters aren't heavy and you could easily read them as part of your daily devotional each morning.
I received this ARC copy from Multnomah Books in an exchange for my honest review. I was not compensated for a positive review.
October 28, 2014
Before I had even finished the first chapter, I knew this would be something that I wanted my daughter… and my granddaughter… to read.
Robin and Alyssa use the perfect examples in telling how their first loves were not the forever love they each thought it would be. In contrast, Jesus loves us with an everlasting love and is ever present and ready to receive our love.
Then they discuss how wonderful it is to be pursued (in a good way)… the closest I can relate to this is the job I have now. A co-worker asked me if I would be interested in transferring to the main office for a better position – and a promotion!
Of course, I was thrilled… and even more so when I learned that my future supervisor – and his supervisor – both thought I was the perfect choice!
However, being a bit scary, since it would require a move to another city, I continually prayed about if I should apply for this position (and if moving my family to another city 3 hours away would work out) and I asked God to show me in several specific ways, which He did, in ways I couldn’t doubt.
Robin and Alyssa go on in the next few chapters to explain that this is what God does… He patiently draws us to Him. Robin speaks of how God delights in you – not because of anything you do or don’t do – just because you are His.
God wants you. He loves you and is continually pursuing you. He has called you out of this world because you are of great value. You are His Peculiar Treasure. You are set free. You are covered, and my favorite, you are promised to Him. You are “spoken for”…
Read the book. It’s a really great book.
An even better idea is to buy the book, read it, then pass it on to a sister, a daughter, or a girl friend.
But read it thoroughly… and take in all it says about how special you are to God, and how much He loves you. You belong to Him… you are Spoken For…
April 9, 2014
I first became familiar with Jefferson and Alyssa Bethke when Jeff’s book, Jesus > Religion first came out. Unfortunately, I haven’t gotten around to reading it, but I did recently read an ARC of Spoken For, the book Alyssa co-wrote with Robin Jones Gunn, author of the Christy Miller series.
Perfect for a Bible Study, complete with study questions at the end of each chapter, Bethke and Gunn each tell personal stories about a common theme. Spoken For is a beautiful book that encourages girls to embrace who they are, and whose they are.
As they use Scripture and personal insight to explain how God loves us, Bethke and Gunn share keys to letting go and leaving behind all the lies that paralyze us and break our hearts. Spoken For feels like a chat with a dear friend and wise mentor all at once.
I found a very needed reminder in the pages of Spoken For: love is about more than how we feel. Even when we feel betrayed, unwanted, and brokenhearted, we can rest in the knowledge that not only did God choose and call us, He loves us deeply. And His love is far greater than human love. He will never leave us for someone else, He will never unfriend us, He will never lie to us. We do not have to earn His Love, and we never could– He simply loves us because we are His.
I thoroughly enjoyed Spoken For. It is a book I will read many times in the future, and look forward to sharing with friends. I would give Spoken For an “A+”.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the Waterbrook Multnomah Blogging for Books Program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 .
Perfect for a Bible Study, complete with study questions at the end of each chapter, Bethke and Gunn each tell personal stories about a common theme. Spoken For is a beautiful book that encourages girls to embrace who they are, and whose they are.
As they use Scripture and personal insight to explain how God loves us, Bethke and Gunn share keys to letting go and leaving behind all the lies that paralyze us and break our hearts. Spoken For feels like a chat with a dear friend and wise mentor all at once.
I found a very needed reminder in the pages of Spoken For: love is about more than how we feel. Even when we feel betrayed, unwanted, and brokenhearted, we can rest in the knowledge that not only did God choose and call us, He loves us deeply. And His love is far greater than human love. He will never leave us for someone else, He will never unfriend us, He will never lie to us. We do not have to earn His Love, and we never could– He simply loves us because we are His.
I thoroughly enjoyed Spoken For. It is a book I will read many times in the future, and look forward to sharing with friends. I would give Spoken For an “A+”.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the Waterbrook Multnomah Blogging for Books Program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 .
April 14, 2014
Rejection can be painful for those who see only one side of a situation: theirs.
Spoken For: Embracing Who You Are and Whose You Are begins with stories personal rejections by Robin and Alyssa. They explain how they felt and what recourse was taken to heal.
To help you realize who and whose you are, questions from ‘What Do You Think?’ are at the end of each chapter. The questions evoke you to answer and understand what true love is. Answering the questions gives measure as to where you stand on this issue.
Robin and Alyssa share experiences from their live and use Biblical references as their answer to handling each occurrence.
In Chapter 7 (my favorite)-You Are a Peculiar Treasure, Robin shares a story when she was young. Her friend, Natalie came to visit and expressed her disappointment when her parents did not let her go to the movies with her friends…”it was not the kind of movie she should see.” Robin’s response was to read 2 Timothy 2:21 (TLB), “You are a fine china plate” that needs protection. Have you ever considered yourself to be so precious? I did after reading this section.
Robin Jones Gunn and Alyssa Joy Bethke have collaborated on an easy to follow study guide revolving around true love. The true love they write about is the love of God has for his children (us). We learn to give this same love back in return. I recommend this book to those who wish to challenge themselves to fully love God.
I received this book free from Multnomah Books through the Blogging for Books Review Program for a honest and unbiased review.
Spoken For: Embracing Who You Are and Whose You Are begins with stories personal rejections by Robin and Alyssa. They explain how they felt and what recourse was taken to heal.
To help you realize who and whose you are, questions from ‘What Do You Think?’ are at the end of each chapter. The questions evoke you to answer and understand what true love is. Answering the questions gives measure as to where you stand on this issue.
Robin and Alyssa share experiences from their live and use Biblical references as their answer to handling each occurrence.
In Chapter 7 (my favorite)-You Are a Peculiar Treasure, Robin shares a story when she was young. Her friend, Natalie came to visit and expressed her disappointment when her parents did not let her go to the movies with her friends…”it was not the kind of movie she should see.” Robin’s response was to read 2 Timothy 2:21 (TLB), “You are a fine china plate” that needs protection. Have you ever considered yourself to be so precious? I did after reading this section.
Robin Jones Gunn and Alyssa Joy Bethke have collaborated on an easy to follow study guide revolving around true love. The true love they write about is the love of God has for his children (us). We learn to give this same love back in return. I recommend this book to those who wish to challenge themselves to fully love God.
I received this book free from Multnomah Books through the Blogging for Books Review Program for a honest and unbiased review.
April 28, 2016
I enjoy Robin Jones Gunn so I was encouraged to pick this book because of her writing. I really enjoyed this book, though it could be read more as a devotional or even a small group study. Each chapter includes questions at the end which I actually enjoyed. Sometimes I don't get much from the questions but these really related.
Here is a tidbit I enjoyed: "God doesn't have any grandchildren. Just because your parents are Christians, that doesn't automatically make you a Christian." The author is referring to a speaker once heard and I thought it summed things up nicely.
Also, on page 23 there is a long list of What God Says About You and this is a ton of verses where it's obvious you are God's treasure. I really enjoyed this part. Later on in the book is also takes this a bit more in depth. Overall both of these women have great things to say. At first I thought it was geared toward younger teens, which it could but I think it's great for anyone to read.
I highly recommend! Pick it up when it comes out April 15, 2014!
Robin's Website
Alyssa's Website
Video
More Info
Read Chapter One
Author Bio
"I received this ARC book from Blogging for Books for free in exchange for an honest review."
Here is a tidbit I enjoyed: "God doesn't have any grandchildren. Just because your parents are Christians, that doesn't automatically make you a Christian." The author is referring to a speaker once heard and I thought it summed things up nicely.
Also, on page 23 there is a long list of What God Says About You and this is a ton of verses where it's obvious you are God's treasure. I really enjoyed this part. Later on in the book is also takes this a bit more in depth. Overall both of these women have great things to say. At first I thought it was geared toward younger teens, which it could but I think it's great for anyone to read.
I highly recommend! Pick it up when it comes out April 15, 2014!
Robin's Website
Alyssa's Website
Video
More Info
Read Chapter One
Author Bio
"I received this ARC book from Blogging for Books for free in exchange for an honest review."
January 3, 2019
I loved this one. This was a sweet and touching book that will surely make you think about you and your life, if not completely change it. If you've read any of Robin's books, you know that she has a knack for writing deep, touching stories. And this may be Alyssa's first book, but I think she did an excellent job.
These were the chapter titles in this book, and the topics that Gunn and Bethke cover. Each chapter was filled with such truth and honesty. I loved the personal anecdotes from each of them. They were candid and honest, and each put so much of themselves into this book, and it shows. Their personalities shone through, and you will laugh and cry as you read along with their experiences.
This book has an amazing message that, frankly, I think all young (and even not-so-young) girls need to hear. It is so relevant, in today's culture and with the things that teens face, and this book is exactly the light in a dark world that young girls need.
I received a copy from the publisher, this did not affect my honest opinion.
This review first appears on The NerdHerd Reads
These were the chapter titles in this book, and the topics that Gunn and Bethke cover. Each chapter was filled with such truth and honesty. I loved the personal anecdotes from each of them. They were candid and honest, and each put so much of themselves into this book, and it shows. Their personalities shone through, and you will laugh and cry as you read along with their experiences.
This book has an amazing message that, frankly, I think all young (and even not-so-young) girls need to hear. It is so relevant, in today's culture and with the things that teens face, and this book is exactly the light in a dark world that young girls need.
I received a copy from the publisher, this did not affect my honest opinion.
This review first appears on The NerdHerd Reads
March 18, 2017
I really enjoyed this book and I feel like it is applicable to a variety of age ranges especially because of the duality between Alyssa Joy Bethke and Robin Jones Gunn. Reading this, you are getting the perspective from two different age ranges and I believe that is helpful in receiving the overall message.
Maybe it's because of the season that I currently am in, but I felt this book was really insightful and thought provoking. It helped me realize some of my own beliefs and what is possibly currently holding me back. It also helped reinforce what is truly important and what to focus my attention on instead of what society says is important.
Overall, I don't think anything in this novel is particularly 'new' information. However, the way that it's laid out and written really seemed relatable to me and because of that, I gained more understanding. It was a very quick read (almost too quick for me...I wanted more) and I definitely think I will be rereading it again in the future. Not only do I hope to read more nonfiction written by Robin Jones Gunn, I also help Alyssa Joy Bethke publishes more in the future. A solid couple of female writers these two are!
Maybe it's because of the season that I currently am in, but I felt this book was really insightful and thought provoking. It helped me realize some of my own beliefs and what is possibly currently holding me back. It also helped reinforce what is truly important and what to focus my attention on instead of what society says is important.
Overall, I don't think anything in this novel is particularly 'new' information. However, the way that it's laid out and written really seemed relatable to me and because of that, I gained more understanding. It was a very quick read (almost too quick for me...I wanted more) and I definitely think I will be rereading it again in the future. Not only do I hope to read more nonfiction written by Robin Jones Gunn, I also help Alyssa Joy Bethke publishes more in the future. A solid couple of female writers these two are!
March 11, 2014
I could not wait to get my hands on a copy of this book!!!
I have loved Robin Jones Gunn for years and recently became familiar with Alyssa through her husband Jefferson Bethke and his book “Jesus Is Greater Than Religion”. When I heard that these two ladies were coming together to produce a “Spoken For”, I was thrilled.
This book is such a sweet, encouraging, wonderful invitation to fully embrace the relationship God so desperately wants with you.
I love that Robin and Alyssa share experiences from their own lives and faith-walks throughout the book. I really felt I was getting to know them and could totally relate to the things they were saying.
There are wonderful Scriptures highlighted throughout the book as well that spoke straight to my heart about who I am in Him.
I also love love loved the “What Do You Think?” sections at the end of the chapters! These self reflection questions really helped me internalize the points of each chapter.
“Spoken For” is a book I will keep and read over and share with my friends.
This would also make a wonderful study for a church group!
I have loved Robin Jones Gunn for years and recently became familiar with Alyssa through her husband Jefferson Bethke and his book “Jesus Is Greater Than Religion”. When I heard that these two ladies were coming together to produce a “Spoken For”, I was thrilled.
This book is such a sweet, encouraging, wonderful invitation to fully embrace the relationship God so desperately wants with you.
I love that Robin and Alyssa share experiences from their own lives and faith-walks throughout the book. I really felt I was getting to know them and could totally relate to the things they were saying.
There are wonderful Scriptures highlighted throughout the book as well that spoke straight to my heart about who I am in Him.
I also love love loved the “What Do You Think?” sections at the end of the chapters! These self reflection questions really helped me internalize the points of each chapter.
“Spoken For” is a book I will keep and read over and share with my friends.
This would also make a wonderful study for a church group!
May 16, 2014
"The Holy Spirit's presence in your life is evidence to you and everyone else that you are spoken for. You are promised. Your affections and loyalties are for your Bridegroom and his Kingdom, not for this world. Not for other lovers. This is intended to be an exclusive relationship. No false gods need apply. The hunt for true love and joy of your soul is over. Jesus made his intentions clear, and you said yes to his proposal of a true, forever-after love."
Spoken For is a sweet book encouraging readers in their relationship with God and his relentless pursuit of us. Alyssa Bethke and Robin Gunn deliver wonderful truth and insight on our love story with Jesus. They support their message with scripture and personal stories of marriage, friendship, and heartbreak that women of all ages can relate to.
However, it is clear by the structure and word choices that this book is intended for teenage girls.
(If you have read Jefferson Bethke's Jesus > Religion, then you will quickly realize that Alyssa pulls direct content from her husband's book and inserts it into her own.)
Spoken For is a sweet book encouraging readers in their relationship with God and his relentless pursuit of us. Alyssa Bethke and Robin Gunn deliver wonderful truth and insight on our love story with Jesus. They support their message with scripture and personal stories of marriage, friendship, and heartbreak that women of all ages can relate to.
However, it is clear by the structure and word choices that this book is intended for teenage girls.
(If you have read Jefferson Bethke's Jesus > Religion, then you will quickly realize that Alyssa pulls direct content from her husband's book and inserts it into her own.)
June 17, 2014
This is not a quick read. This is a beautiful journey. A journey within your self, a journey with friends, and a journey with our Creator. Pondering the nuggets of wisdom can not do justice for the renewal and confirming nature of this book. Robin's voice encourages and supports His love for you. Alyssa's bright and crisp enthusiasm is contagious. Spiritual joy bubbles forth through out your days as you journey through acceptance, healing, and a blessed assurance that is shared directly from His love.
With personal witness connections, scripture passages, questions to contemplate... every chapter is a fresh beginning. If you have read the Bible you will find a depth to passages you already know. If you have not begun your scripture journey, this will be a beautiful introduction to a personal quest that will last you a life time. Either way, take this journey with Robin, Alyssa, and all of us who are realizing the depth of being Spoken For.
Blessings for a journey that will last a life time,
MrsK
http://mrskbookstogo.blogspot.com/
With personal witness connections, scripture passages, questions to contemplate... every chapter is a fresh beginning. If you have read the Bible you will find a depth to passages you already know. If you have not begun your scripture journey, this will be a beautiful introduction to a personal quest that will last you a life time. Either way, take this journey with Robin, Alyssa, and all of us who are realizing the depth of being Spoken For.
Blessings for a journey that will last a life time,
MrsK
http://mrskbookstogo.blogspot.com/
September 20, 2016
I liked this for what it was. I appreciate that they mention that all we need is God and we do not NEED marriage and I even liked the -very brief- mention of how young women can idolize marriage to the point of making it an idol and put it before pursuing God.
That being said, I GOT why the girls compared a lot of "what God is like" to "what my husband/fiancé/boyfriend is and was like" but it felt more like brief autobiography that quickly at the end said "BUT YOU DON'T NEED TO BE MARRIED TO BE LOVED" but after 200+ pages about romantic love with another person it just didn't come off as strongly as it should have (IMO).
Anyway, I also am bias because I REALLY don't get the whole "writing letters to my future spouse/praying for my non-existent husband daily" thing. Sorry. I just really don't get it. And one of the authors wrote a an entire other book about that so you can see why I disagree with some of the things said.
Still, the Biblical truths were there and the Gospel message was proclaimed and I got some good practical advice that I can use.
That being said, I GOT why the girls compared a lot of "what God is like" to "what my husband/fiancé/boyfriend is and was like" but it felt more like brief autobiography that quickly at the end said "BUT YOU DON'T NEED TO BE MARRIED TO BE LOVED" but after 200+ pages about romantic love with another person it just didn't come off as strongly as it should have (IMO).
Anyway, I also am bias because I REALLY don't get the whole "writing letters to my future spouse/praying for my non-existent husband daily" thing. Sorry. I just really don't get it. And one of the authors wrote a an entire other book about that so you can see why I disagree with some of the things said.
Still, the Biblical truths were there and the Gospel message was proclaimed and I got some good practical advice that I can use.
August 10, 2016
What a beautiful book. It states and re-states how loved we are by our Relentless Lover. God continues to pursue us because He wants to share our hearts with Him.
I love books like this; books that make me want to devour the Bible and make me want to continue to deepen my life with Him. I never really thought of the Bible as a love story. But it is. God promises us forever. We're even referred to as His "bride."
It was so sweet to be able to feel the mushy feels from God while reading this book. It's so true. God wills us to open up to Him because He knows us. He knows what will make us happy, and He knows to make our lives better.
The Bible verses were on point. I wrote most of them down in my journal to puruse later. I greatly enjoyed the stories of the authors and their own love lives weren't perfect, but with the love of Christ and their trust in Him, they were able to persevere and be successful in life and in love.
Lovely book.
I love books like this; books that make me want to devour the Bible and make me want to continue to deepen my life with Him. I never really thought of the Bible as a love story. But it is. God promises us forever. We're even referred to as His "bride."
It was so sweet to be able to feel the mushy feels from God while reading this book. It's so true. God wills us to open up to Him because He knows us. He knows what will make us happy, and He knows to make our lives better.
The Bible verses were on point. I wrote most of them down in my journal to puruse later. I greatly enjoyed the stories of the authors and their own love lives weren't perfect, but with the love of Christ and their trust in Him, they were able to persevere and be successful in life and in love.
Lovely book.
July 22, 2018
I love this book! It is one of few I have found very helpful to reread periodically. (Right now that is 4+ times.) The authors are vulnerable in sharing their own stories, but they do it well by never elevating it above their message, that God loves and chooses YOU! I feel like no matter how loved you feel or believe you are, that it will only improve with reading this book. It is a pretty easy read and I found the whole thing enjoyable.
I find the question exercises at the end of every chapter in this book really helpful to get the most out of the book! For me that says a lot because most of the time I find these kinds of questions generally unhelpful, especially when I am not reading a book with another person/group.
This is a book I would definitely recommend!
I find the question exercises at the end of every chapter in this book really helpful to get the most out of the book! For me that says a lot because most of the time I find these kinds of questions generally unhelpful, especially when I am not reading a book with another person/group.
This is a book I would definitely recommend!
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